Fight Age Verification

The internet should not require ID.

Governments are moving toward mandatory age checks online. In practice, that can mean showing ID to look up information, create accounts, or take part in digital spaces.

It is happening now

This is not a distant idea. The EU is building tools, and countries around the world are already moving. What starts as child safety can become ID checks for more and more of the internet.

EU

The Commission is pushing an EU age verification app, the European Parliament has proposed a harmonised minimum age of 16 for social media, and the Commission president has opened the door to an EU proposal as early as this summer.

EU appSummer proposalEuropean Parliament

UK and Australia

Australia is implementing social media minimum age rules, while the UK is pushing age assurance through the Online Safety Act.

AustraliaGOV.UK

Sweden

The government is investigating an age limit for children’s use of social media. The Social Democrats have also proposed a strict 15-year limit with ID checks.

InquiryS proposal

Why ID checks miss the point

Children should be protected online. But the answer cannot be to make ID checks the key to seeking support, learning, creating, or taking part in digital spaces.

What is being proposed?

Require platforms to check users' ages before they can access social media, create accounts, watch videos, join communities, or use other everyday parts of the internet.

What is the problem?

Age verification sounds harmless: prove your age, access the site. But the real cost is much bigger. These laws can force people to hand over ID, face scans, or personal data just to use everyday parts of the internet, creating new risks for privacy, speech, and access to information.

Who is affected?

Young people seeking support, learning, following news and culture, or building something. Also adults who do not want lawful content, private browsing, or political debate to require ID.

What should be done instead?

Target actual harm: grooming, exploitation, fraud, and harassment. Put stronger demands on platforms' moderation, default settings, and design. Give parents better tools to guide their own children online, without making ID checks a basic requirement for the internet.

Who is actually affected?

An ID requirement sounds technical. In practice, it affects who can look up information, create, ask questions, join the debate, and build something of their own.

The person seeking help privately
Someone who is struggling may need to seek support without first identifying themselves to a platform.
The person who wants to learn online
Programming, AI, music, and games are often learned through open resources. ID checks make normal curiosity harder.
The person who wants to start something
Young people should be able to launch side projects, create music, sell digital services, and build communities.
The person who wants to understand the world
Young people need access to news, culture, politics, and niche interests to become genuinely informed.

Make your voice heard

Choose which decision-makers to contact. Send the draft as it is, or edit it freely so it says what you want to say.

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Ursula von der Leyen🇪🇺 EUPresident of the European Commission; presented the EU age verification app and is pushing a harmonised European approachEmail: ursula.von-der-leyen@ec.europa.eu
Henna Virkkunen🇪🇺 EUEuropean Commission Executive Vice-President for tech sovereignty, security and democracy; responsible for the EU age verification appEmail: cab-virkkunen-contact@ec.europa.eu
Christel Schaldemose🇪🇺 EUMEP and rapporteur for the European Parliament report calling for an EU-wide 16-year minimum age for social mediaEmail: christel.schaldemose@europarl.europa.eu
Swedish Members of the European Parliament🇪🇺 EUReach Sweden’s 21 MEPs through the Parliament liaison office/listEmail: epstockholm@ep.europa.eu
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Sources

Last checked: 17 May 2026

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